Arman Adamian finishes fifth after beating Olympic champion at worlds

Arman Adamian finished fifth in the men's under-100 kg category at the World Judo Championships in Baku after defeating Olympic champion Zelim Kotsoev earlier in the competition.

The Russian judoka beat Azerbaijan's Kotsoev in the round of 16, with the contest decided in extra time. Adamian won the world title in 2023 and a world championship bronze medal in 2025.

Later on October 9, he faced fellow Russian Niiaz Bilalov for bronze. The International Judo Federation reported that Bilalov countered an attack for a yuko and secured the medal, his first at a senior world championship.

Georgia's Ilia Sulamanidze won gold in the category by defeating Japan's Dota Arai in the final. Italy's Gennaro Pirelli took the other bronze medal. Adamian shared fifth place with Uzbekistan's Tulkinbek Turdiev. The world championships in Azerbaijan's capital are scheduled to conclude on October 11.